Cool as in sipping on an herb-infused spritzer drink—Lucinda Hutson offers several options to choose from. I vote for the Gin and Roses (after reading all about the history of gin by mixologist David Alan).

Cool as in using those plentiful tomatoes from your garden or the farmers markets to make a calming Tomato-Water Martini, courtesy of Laura McKissack. Craving a non-alcoholic refresher? Try your hand at making Kate Payne's soda syrups for your own homemade fountain sodas. Spiking allowed, of course!

Cool as in ducking out of the heat and into one (or all) of the old-Austin bars along our suggested Burnet Road Crawl to say "hey" to Ginny, Lala and Jackie, nurse a longneck and while away some hours listening to classic jukebox fare.

Lest we forget about eating while we’re drinking, this issue features plenty of seasonal summer recipes—throw some chicken on your grill à la Tito Beveridge; sear some Gulf tuna from K&S Seafood; and whip up Elizabeth Winslow’s Summer Salads as meatless meals or to go with the aforementioned turf and surf.

The absolutely coolest thing you can do this summer, however, is to help us support Austin Food for Life, a start-up nonprofit dedicated to assisting food and beverage industry professionals (including farmers and artisans) access affordable healthcare solutions by attending our second annual Sipping Social taking place on Saturday, June 21 at new event space Fair Market on Austin's historic East Side. Dress in your finest vintage attire and attend our Prohabition Era-style wing-ding of a party that brings this issue and the Austin beverage scene to life featuring live jazz, dance lessons, a cocktail lounge, wine bar, beer hall, juice and coffee bars, soda fountain, delectable artisan food tastings, and surprises around all the corners. We’ve invited back the baby goats from Swede Farm—and Swede’s signature chocolate goat’s milk is not to be missed. Tickets go on sale May 1 and we will offer a limited number of VIP Packages again this year, featuring a collection of spirits and other beverages from the artisans featured at the event that will stock your home bars for many moons.